Starting New Tank

[dbabs31]

Looking to get back in the hobby after a 7 year hiatus. Wanted to start a new tank and looking at the Marineland 20 or 30 G half moon LED nano. Anyone suggest this tank or is there something better? I am looking to have live rock, maybe an anemone and other fish/invertebrate.
Also if you do suggest this tank what filtration, lighting, protein skimmer and any other equipment.
Thanks!!

 

[flower]

Hi,

Welcome to the site, I would go with a 55g to 75g myself.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Half moon tanks are very hard to get the flow just right. They also tend to be tall tanks, which typically don't keep a steady pH. Being tall and not wide or long, your fish selection will be very limited. Also, the LED light that comes with them are not typically for Reef tanks - which is what you will need if you want to have success with your current stock list.

One of the large big box stores sells a rimless tank if your interested in something small and different... Rimless tanks can look really cool once they are set up with fish and corals.

If you are stuck on nano sized tanks, Biocubes, JBJ's and Red Sea Max make great little systems that can be pretty easily modified to fit your needs and taste.

If your not stuck on a nano sized tank and can afford it, I strongly recommend getting a 55 or 75g as flower suggested.

 

[dbabs31]

Thanks I'll take a look at these. So if I go with these sizes and the nano types of tanks would you suggest I do not do anemone and live rock with them, even if I were to invest in the Reef lighting?

 

[snakeblitz33]

That's kind of a loaded question. For new hobbyists, I do not recommend anemones. They require constant salinity, constant temp, constant water parameters, frequent meaty feedings and lots and lots of light. As a new hobbyist, you really need to concentrate on the basics of husbandry and then progress into advanced husbandry techniques and then start challenging yourself with more difficult species,... like anemones.

But, that's just my .02.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/396481/starting-new-tank#post_3532799
That's kind of a loaded question. For new hobbyists, I do not recommend anemones. They require constant salinity, constant temp, constant water parameters, frequent meaty feedings and lots and lots of light. As a new hobbyist, you really need to concentrate on the basics of husbandry and then progress into advanced husbandry techniques and then start challenging yourself with more difficult species,... like anemones.

But, that's just my .02.

I know Snake said "constant"...I think a better choice of word would be consistent. Anemones need the parameters, salinity and temp to be pristine to begin with, and maintained to always stay that to keep them healthy. They also sting or eat any critter (except a hosted clown) dumb enough to get too close to it, and they follow the water flow, which often gets them entangled in the power heads and intake tubes. In a little tank, critters won't have much room to get around it, and if the anemone gets sucked up, it will quickly poison the entire tank.

Keeping up a nano is one hard task, often considered an expert only size tank, and putting an anemone into it makes it near impossible. All that, and we haven't even mentioned the lighting yet...

 

[dbabs31]

Oh boy : ). Thanks for the help. So to keep it simple, stick with live rock and potentially a fish only tank then?

 

[jay0705]

I have a 75 fowlr and yes its easy by salt standards lol. I do keep shrimps and snails too so it's not a total fish only.

 

[dbabs31]

Great thanks for the help! I hope I can do one 1/3 the size or so!

 

[jay0705]

Biggest thing is take u r time. If u get fish at a lfs examine them well see how long that have had the fish. I try to not buy fish that came in just that day

 

[dbabs31]

Looking at either the JBJ 28 Gallon nano LED lighting tank or the Biocube 29 Gallon with LED replaceable bars. Any recommendation which is a better tank and light setup, better tank in general, customer service, better for fish and/or coral, etc. Thanks for any and all information!